On the occasion of "Car Week" in the Scottsdale area, RM Sotheby's put 90 automobiles and a carriage under the hammer at the Arizona Bitmore on January 24, 2025. The vehicles were estimated in advance at around USD 36 million or USD 395,577 per car.
65% of the cars were offered without a reserve price and were on average 71 years old.
93% of the vehicles were sold for a total of USD 31.5 million (EUR 29.9 million, CHF 28.6 million).
Many personalities from the American and Canadian collector scene attended the auction in a sophisticated setting in the upscale Biltmore district of Phoenix (Arizona). Around 80% of the lots were purchased by the persistent audience in the auction room, so for once the Internet and telephone bidders were less important.
American and pre-war epoch-influenced offer
American car brands were well represented at RM in Arizona, especially those from the pre-war era. In fact, 42% of the cars on offer were built in the years before the Second World War, a significant proportion of them in the States.
The old cars sold well, with 95% finding a new owner who put down an average of almost USD 230,000 for such a car. However, the pre-war cars fell short of the median estimate by more than ten percent on average.
In terms of brands, however, it was European manufacturers that were most strongly represented. Porsche brought 10, Ferrari/Dino with 8 and Mercedes-Benz with 7 cars "to the start". However, they were followed by Cadillac (6), Packard (5), Ford (4) and many rare US manufacturers with their offerings.
Tour de France as the most expensive car
As expected, the Ferrari 250 GT LWB "Tour de France" from 1958 was the most expensive car at the auction.
USD 3.5 to 4.5 million had been expected for chassis 0933 GT with extensive racing history, at USD 3.425 million the Ferrari scratched the lower estimate after a quarter-hour bidding war and was sold for USD 3.773 million (EUR 3.58 million, CHF 3.43 million).
Another Ferrari, once driven by Silvester Stallone, was the 365 GTC/4 from 1972, which was sold for USD 162,500 more than expected, but still looked good value overall.
Surprise with four rings
One of the biggest surprises of the auction was an Audi Sport quattro from 1984. It pulverized the estimated value of USD 375,000 to 475,000 with a top bid of USD 685,000.
After a lengthy ping-pong between two floor bidders and a telephone bidder, USD 758,500 (EUR 720,575, CHF 715,260) was quoted as the selling price for the racing-optimized short road-going Quattro from a first-hand owner.
However, two other cars performed even better compared to expectations, namely a 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Sportsman Cabriolet, which sold for USD 489,000, and a 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale, which was worth USD 786,000 to the buyer.
In addition to the Audi quattro, another German evolutionary vehicle was also sold above its estimated value, a 1995 BMW M3 E36, which changed hands for USD 89,600.
Valuable Bentley and Bugatti
After the aforementioned Ferrari 250 GT LWB Tour de France, it was two pre-war cars that were rewarded with the highest bids.
USD 3.195 million (EUR 3.04 million, CHF 2.91 million) was paid for the Bentley 8 Litre as a Convertible Victoria by Murphy from 1931.
The 1939 Bugatti Type 57 C Atalante with elegant Gangloff bodywork was worth USD 2.37 million (EUR 2.25 million, CHF 2.16 million) to the highest bidder.
Another Bugatti 57 as a convertible by Letourneur et Marchand from 1938 could not be sold; the USD 625,000 bid was not enough to win it.
All Mercedes sold
Three Mercedes-Benz 300 SLs were offered, all of which found a new owner.
The most expensive was the 1956 Gullwing, which found a new garage for USD 2.04 million (EUR 1.938 million, CHF 1.856 million).
The two roadsters from 1958 and 1962 changed hands for slightly less, at USD 1.259 million and 1.325 million respectively.
The other Mercedes, including an SLS AMG and a Pagoda, were also knocked down.
Young classics with slightly less demand
Only 83% of cars built in the 1990s and 82% of cars built after 2000 were sold.
An Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato Volante from 2018, a Saleen S7 LM from 2007, which nevertheless found a new owner after the auction, and a Porsche 911 restomod by Gunther Werks from 1995 fell by the wayside.
Some favorable opportunities
A whole series of cars were sold for significantly less than expected, which was certainly also due to the high proportion of "no reserves".
For example, you could buy a 1993 Mercedes-Benz 500 GE 6.0 AMG for USD 78,400, a 1958 Porsche 356 A for USD 95,200, a 1964 Shelby Cobra 289 FIA for USD 142,800 or a 1964 Jaguar E-Type Series 1 roadster for USD 64,400, which looked quite presentable but had a later engine and had been repainted.
The 1917 Model 68 Brougham Detroit Electric also found a new owner for a surprisingly low price of USD 78,400 at half the estimate.
The pretty MG TC from 1949, which, like a whole series of other cars from the John T. Mayo Collection, certainly offered a lot of car for the money. USD 23,520 (EUR 22,344, CHF 21,403) was enough to buy the thirteenth-last TC built.
Offered and Sold Vehicles
The following table lists all offered and sold vehicles with estimated prices, highest bids, and sale prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid on the auction day. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | USD Est from | USD Est to | USD HP | USD SP | CHF SP | EUR SP | % Est | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113 | Vespa 400 | 1959 | 20'000 | 30'000 | 36'000 | 40'320 | 36'691 | 38'304 | +61.28%
|
V |
| 114 | BMW M3 | 1995 | 50'000 | 70'000 | 80'000 | 89'600 | 81'536 | 85'120 | +49.33%
|
V |
| 115 | Western Concord-Style Stagecoach Recreation | 1869 | 20'000 | 40'000 | 75'000 | 84'000 | 76'440 | 79'800 | +180%
|
V |
| 116 | Reo Thirty Touring | 1911 | 20'000 | 30'000 | 40'000 | 44'800 | 40'768 | 42'560 | +79.2%
|
V |
| 117 | Jewett Model 18-22 Special Touring | 1923 | 20'000 | 30'000 | 16'000 | 17'920 | 16'307 | 17'024 | -28.32%
|
V |
| 118 | Chrysler Airflow Eight Sedan | 1937 | 25'000 | 35'000 | 30'000 | 33'600 | 30'576 | 31'920 | +12%
|
V |
| 119 | Cadillac Model M Touring | 1907 | 30'000 | 50'000 | 40'000 | 44'800 | 40'768 | 42'560 | +12%
|
V |
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All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
